In 1967 a Cincinnati-based ownership group led by Paul Brown was granted a Bengals franchise in the American Football League. He named the team the Bengals in order "to give it a link with past professional football in Cincinnati." Another Bengals team existed in the city from 1937 to 1941, and played in various incarnations of older American Football Leagues. The city of Cincinnati's Zoo was famous for having the rare Bengal Tiger in captivity which was very uncommon in the United States during that time. Get your Bengals tickets from Tickets To Go for the best in Bengals seats.